Shipping case for fragile articles



March 4, 1952 J. R. GRANT SHIPPING CASE FOR FRAGILE: ARTICLES 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Jan. 16, 1948 IN V E TOR. 0?-

ATTORNEY March 4, 1952 J. R. GRANT 2,588,232

SHIPPING CASE FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES IN VEN TOR.

AT TORNEI Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE;

4 Claims.`

Thisinventionrelates to ,shipping cases fort fragile articles `composed `of double-face corrufA gatedber board,` and has-for its principal ob-r ject the provision cfa new and improved case of this r.- type.

It isa main object of this invention'to provide,

a corrugated ber boardv shipping case for fragile-articles, which is of standard `length and, Width, andvwhich contains two compartments. thatare of standarddimension throughout and' bounded lby Walls4 which .are smooth and planar and of` uniform vthickness from` top to bottom,

ofrthecase.

Another objectQof the invention is. to provide a corrugated fiber board shipping. case having aifdouble thickness of material in the .bottom and sides to .strengthen the case against endwise stresses.

- Another :object ofthe invention is `to providey acorrugated liber hoardshippingA case in which the ends and partition are. composed of two thicknesses, of -material that` are lspaced L apart to f cushion the case against shocks imposed endf- Wise upon it;

Another Aobject Yof the 1 invention is .I to provide a: corrugated tber boaidshipping case, liber.Y board posts locatediatV the corners off. thecase.. and at f both ends ofvthe partition therein to. strengthenlthe case vertically and; thereby inf crease ,its .stackingstrength Another object of i the invention is to, provide fory acorrugated ber board shippingcase a cover.. which. doesanotextend beyondzthe outer Walls` of thecaseeither at the ends or sides, and whichr is locked'lto: the case; atboth ends` andin the.` -4

middle.

Another `.object of the. invention is to provide. a-corrugated` fiber :board shipping` casewhich .can4 be -manufactured atv .low cost4 without sacrificing` quality.

Flurthertobjects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will beapparent from the detailed description and. claims which follow, reference beinglhadto the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example andV in which Fig. ljvis a-view `in isometric the: caseJ partially assembled;

Fig. 2'is a View in'isometric projection ofthe,

cover for the case;

Eig; 3'is a plan view ofthe blankr from which thebottorn and sides ofthe case are formed;

one, forrn 'ofjlinerQfor the` case is formed;

thecoverf of, thecase. is forlifedi Eig. Gris aplanviev oiftlehlanlfrcm `which the, partitionT and end. members; of A the caseA are4 towed;

projection showing 44 isauplan view ofthe blank, fr ornWinchl shipping. case particularly adaptedffor.u` eggs,

Fig. rIris a plan vieW of a modied blanltipijv formingthe liner Vfor the case; and

Fig.` 8 isa fragmentary cross sectional-view. taken along thelongitudinal median line of the ,t case, showingparticuljarly the attachment of the bottom and end wall thereof.

Shipping cases for fragile articles such as eggs havelong been made` of wood, andthesecases.` -havcbeen standardized as to Width, length and` height, so as to properly lit` in railway cars,

trucks and cold storage rooms with a minimum` `ofvvaste space. It is essential that such Lcases bemaintained accurately to these dimensions so` as Atosnugly t into the car ortruck to minimize., damage to the contents resulting from shocks en countered in shipping.

Double-face corrugatedber board eggcases have recently come intoquite general use,` notwithstanding that most of -these cases aren'iot;V

of `standard dimensions,` In my prior co-pend` ing applications, Serial No. 649,211, filed Februaryl, 1946, now Patent No. 2,578,060, datedo December 1,1, 1951, and HS'erialNo. 678,462, ledr June 21, 19416, now Patent No. 2,573,706, dated- November 6,' 1951 there are shown such cases.` which maintain standard dimension bothas to` length, width and height, and` also provide coni partmepts which areof uniform dimensionfrom top to bottom, and bounded byV smooth parallel Walls` that are entirely` freefrom projections of everykind which occupy compartment space.,

The presentv invention, which may broadly bev stated` to be an improvement upon these prior` cri-pending applications, preservesV the salient features thereof, and in addition provides al which will meettherequirements of bothlthe transportation.companies and packers.

Recently the American` Association of, Railreads, in setting up standards` forshipping cases for` eggs,` specied that double-face', corrugated-l iiber board cases mustV be provided with double.A

thickness` bottoms and double thickness side. walls, and if `the shipperisto obtain the bene't of. the preferred rateY allowed forfshipment in,`

standard-cases these` requirementsmust be met;

In addition, in order to permitcommercial han-V cllingacf` the eggs by the shipper, the case must contain4 standard dimension fereA` with the, placing` and removalv of standard rs and Eats therein; The case of the invention meets these reduirenients.'V

Inits preferredA form, 'the `case, of the present invention consists of an outer main4 member. that forrns` the vbt'ittonr and sidewalls ofthelcase,

vvh'ich memberisrlanged ateach end bylextenf,

s ,ionsfwhich projectatright angles to the face` 0i it@ Sametime Whitten @bien einer f..

compartmentsl bounded throughout` by` smooth parallel walls.V :tree,fromobstructions of any. kind which `interpresent- 3 lining members, each forming bottom and. side walls of the case, are disposed within this outer member andare similarly flanged. Two. 'such liners, placed end to end, cooperate with the flanges on the outer 'member to form double thickness, inwardly projecting flanges at both ends and in the middle of the case. Generally U=shaped end members are disposed against the opposite faces of the flanges and extend across the top thereof and are secured thereto to close the ends of the case. A similar Ueshaped member engages the flanges at the middle of the case to form a, partition dividing the case into two equal compartments.

The case thus formed has double thickness bottom and side walls, and double thickness end Walls and partition, the end walls and partition wall members being spaced apart a distance equal to two thicknesses of the material, with the result that these members are cushioned against endwise shock. The double thickness side walls, together with the double thickness bottom, resist endwise stresses placed upon the case and since the case is fastened together at the partition, such stresses cannot bow the side walls out and damage to the contents of the case is thereby minimized. The anges at the ends and in the middle of the case form vertical and horizontally extending posts, the vertical posts of which reinforce the case vertically thereby to increase its stacking strength.

The ends walls and partition are each slotted in their upper edges and a Cover for the case is provided with depending flangelike tongues adapted to enter these slots to look the cover` to the case at both ends and in the middle. The cover may be flanged along its sides and the flanges tucked down inside the side walls of the case thereby to more tightly bind the top layer in the case to minimize damage to the contents thereof. The cover thus constructed ts entirely within the outer surfaces of the case and aids in reinforcing it against stresses placed upon it from any direction.

When composed of double-face corrugated fiber board of a thickness that is readily available, the case so constructed will be of standard length, width and height, and each compartment will be full size in every direction. There will be no cleets or other protuberances extending into the compartments to occupy the space thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, particularly Figs. l and 3, it will be seen that the outer main body of the case consists of a bottom I and sides 2 and 3 integral with the bottom and adapted to be folded at right angles thereto along score lines 4. End projections 5 and 6 of the bottom section I are integral therewith and adapted to be folded at right angles therewith along score lines 1. End projections of the sides 2 and 3 are likewise integral therewith and adapted to be folded at right angles thereto along score lines 8. It will be noted that these end projections of the side walls are cut away at 9, so that when the side walls and end projections are folded at right angles to each other and to the bottoms, the side projections will overlie the bottom projections 5 and B and be disposed in the same plane as those projections.

Liners, such as are shown in Figs. 4 and 7, consist of a bottom section I I and side wall sections l2 and I3, the bottom section II having one end projection I4 connecting thereto along score line I5 and adapted to be folded at right angles thereto. The side wall sections I2 and I3 have simi- 4 lar projections l5 adapted to be folded alongv score line I'I whichv projections I6 haveciitoiits I8 so that when folded the projections I6 will li in the. same plane and upon the bottom proje tion I4. Y Y 4 l The opposite ends of the liners have` similar projections i9 and 26, the adjacent ends of which are mitered so that whenthese projectins are folded along score line 2l all will lie in a common plane. As will be seen in Fig; 1, two Ysuch liners I0 and Ita are employed in the case and are reg' istered with the outer main member I.

The ends of the case are formed blank, as shown in Fig. 6, and consist of vertical wall members 25 and 26 joined together by a shorter top member 21, the members 25 and 26 being bent along score lines 28 at right angles to the top member. The U-shaped structure thus formed is fitted down over the flanges consisting of the fianges formed by the projections on the main and liner members with the faces 25 and 26 thereof registering with the opposite faces of the flanges. The end wall thus formed is secured to these flanges in any preferred manner, such as by staples 3G, to close the end of the case. rlhe two ends of the case are thus formed and a similar partition member 36 is registered with and secured to the central ange formed by the projecting ends of the liner members in any preferred manner such as by staples 3l.

Thus it will be seen that the case so formed consists of a double thickness bottom, double thickness side walls, and double thickness end walls and partition both of which have face members spaced apart a distance equal to two thicknesses of the material.

It will be noted that theend wall and partition members each contains a centrally located slot 40 adapted to receive the tongues of the cover. As will be seen in Fig. 5, the cover comprises main sections 44 and 45 having tongues 4t projecting at right angles to the main plane thereof. The tongues 46 comprise two thicknesses of material and are shaped with locking members 41 by which the cover is secured to the case through engagement of these members with the under sides of the top portions 2l of the end walls and partition to securely lock the cover to the case at both ends and in the middle. Cover sections 44 and 45 may also be provided with side flanges 48 which fit down inside the side walls of the case when the cover is in place thereon. If desired, the side walls of the case may be provided with ventilating holes 5I) and theend walls of the case with similar holes 5I to provide for ventilation as required in storage. In cases to be used solely for shipment, these Ventilating ports ordinarily are not necessary. The end walls of the case are also provided with hand holes 52 to facilitate handling the case.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. '7, .the liner members shown in Fig. 4 are modified by forming mitered cutouts 6e at both ends of the liner so that the posts formed at the corners of the case will be mitered rather than step-cut, as shown in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the case of the present invention has end walls having thickness equal to four thicknesses of material and having two parallel members that are spaced apart a distance equal to two thicknesses of the material. This construction builds into the end wall of the case a certain amount of resiliency so as to cushion shocks imposed upon the case in transit. It is well known that switching, starting and stopping of freight trains frequently im' s pose Severe endwise shock on the contents of the cars, and this resiliency cushions the load within the case and minimizes damage resulting from such shock. The partition is similarly constructed and cushioned.

Since the side walls and bottom of the case are each composed of two thicknesses of material, which thicknesses are disposed face to face, the case is strong against endwise stresses as well as lateral stresses, and not likely to be damaged in ordinary usage. The post-like structures of the four corners and middle of the case strengthen it vertically so that loaded cases may be stacked eight or more high without damage to the lower cases. The case of the present invention meets the shipping requirements of the railroads with a minimum of material, and in addition meets the shippers requirement for uniform size compartments bounded by smooth parallel walls that are of uniform thickness throughout.

While I have chosen to show my invention by I illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes, and shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire to` have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping case for fragile articles comprising integral bottom and side wall members, hanges at both ends of said members, a pair of liner members each having bottom and side wall I' sections, nanges onA each end of each liner member, said nner members being disposed end to end and on said bottom member witn the wide wall sections of the liners disposed against said side wan members, the nanges on said liners abutting together to form a vertical post alongside each side wall member and a horizontal post extending between the vertical posts and alongside said bottom member, the flanges on the ends of said liners with the corresponding anges at the ends of said members forming corresponding vertical and horizontal posts at the ends of said case, generally U-shaped members having planar sections disposed against opposite faces of said posts and slotted connecting sections extending across the upper ends of the vertical ones of said posts, and means securing the planar sections of said case to said posts to close in the case and to divide the case into two equal compartments.

2. In a shipping case for fragile articles coinposed of double-face corrugated fiber board; a pair of compartments each bounded by smooth planar walls the opposite ones of which are parallel, each comparment having a bottom composed of two thicknesses of said material, side Walls composed of two thicknesses of the material each thickness of which is integral with the thickness of the bottom, an end wall composed of two thicknesses of material spaced apart a distance equal to two thicknesses of the material both of which thicknesses are fastened directly to both the bottom and side walls; a partition joining together and separating said compartments, which partition comprises two thicknesses of said material separated by a` space equal to two thicknesses of the material both of which thicknesses are fastened directly to both 6 the bottom and side walls; a cover for the case composed of a single thickness of the material, and double thickness notched projections on said cover adapted to extend through slots contained in the upper edges of said end and partition members and to engage the ends of those slots to lock the cover to the case at both ends and in the middle.

3. A shipping case for fragile articles comprising an outer member forming the bottom and side walls of the case, flanges extending upwardly from each end of the bottom and inwardly from each end of the side wall portions of said member, a pair of liner members each having a bottom section and two side wall sections disposed end to end against the bottom and side wall sections respectively of said outer member, iianges on each end of each of said liner members projecting upwardly from the bottom section and inwardly from the side sections and each lying alongside a corresponding liange on another member, a pair of U-shaped end members each straddling the end flanges on the outer and liner members, means securing said end members to said flanges to hold the case together, a U-shaped partition member straddling the flanges on said liner members at the center of the case, means securing said partition member to the flanges it engages to divide the case into equal size compartments, there being slots formed in the closed ends of said end and partition members, a cover, and tongues on said cover adapted to project through said slots and lock the cover to the case at [both ends and in the middle.

4. In a shipping case for fragile articles, composed oi double .face corrugated berboard, double bottom and side wall members integrally connected together to strengthen the case against endwise shocks; posts at the ends of the side wall members formed integral with the side walls; double thickness end wall members each thickness of which is fastened to said bottom and to said posts, the thicknesses of board in said end wall being spaced apart by said posts to cushion the case against endwise shock; posts at the middle of the case formed integral with the inner thicknesses of the side wall members, a partition extending between the side wall members to divide the case into compartments and composed of two thicknesses of board each of which engages said latter posts and is fastened thereto and to the bottom to brace the case against lateral expansion under endwise stress, said thicknesses of board in the partition being spaced apart by said latter posts to cushion the partition against endwise shock, said end and partition posts reinforcing the case vertically against crushing under stresses imposed by stacking the cases one upon another.

JESSE R. GRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,343 Claff Aug.. 17, 1937 2,233,221 Olivier Feb. 25, 1941 2,345,350 Markwardt et al. Mar'. 28, 1944 2,401,742 Bentham June 11, 1946 2,404,067 Hill July 16, 1946 2,425,230 Cann Aug. 5, 1947 2,427,397 Ferguson Sept. 16, 1947 

